Kobo Updates E-Reader with Wi-Fi, Price-Drop

Kobo, the independent e-reader company that could, has updated its popular e-book. It gets a price-drop, a few tweaks and one big new feature.

Kobo started out as client-software on mobile devices and now exists on everything from the iPad to the PC to the upcoming Blackberry PlayBook. It has also been selling well in its physical incarnation, and this new model replaces the old, shaving $10 off the price (it is now $140) and adding much-needed Wi-Fi. Previously, you’d need to download purchases from the Kobo store to your computer and send them to the Kobo via Bluetooth or USB. Now, with Wi-Fi, you can shop direct, just like you can with Amazon’s Kindle. You can also have magazines and newspapers delivered to the device.

The new reader also has improved, sharper text (in five sizes), 1GB memory (the Wi-Fi Kindle has 2GB) and a battery life of ten days (Kindle, one month). You can, however, stick in an SD-card to increase capacity. The processor has also been upgraded, making page-turns 2.5x faster, and Kobo has added a built-in dictionary.

Unlike the Kindle, the Kobo supports the industry-standard EPUB format, the same as used by Apple’s iBooks, and just like the Kindle, any of your books will stay in sync across your various applications and devices. It also comes in a variety of colors, including black, “Pearlized Onyx” and silver (these last two only color the quilted back panel – the black is black all-over). Onyx, Porcelain with Metallic Silver back, and Porcelain with a Pearlized Lilac back.